Folding box

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a folding box ( 1 ), comprising a bottom ( 2 ) and several side walls ( 3 ), which are rotatably connected to the bottom ( 2 ), wherein the bottom ( 2 ) has a first concave/convex connection surface (a) and at least one side wall ( 3 ) has a second convex/concave connection surface (b), which interacts with the first connection surface (a) in order to connect the at least one side wall ( 3 ) to the bottom ( 2 ). According to the invention, the bottom ( 2 ) has a third concave/convex connection surface (c) and the at least one side wall ( 3 ) has a fourth convex/concave connection surface (d), wherein the third and/or the fourth connection surface (c, d) is cylindrical. The third and the fourth connection surfaces (c, d) are arranged in such a way that a sliding of the at least one side wall ( 3 ) relative to the bottom ( 2 ) in the second direction (x 2 ) is enabled in a first rotational position of the side wall ( 3 ) and is prevented in a second rotational position.

The invention relates to a folding box, comprising a bottom and severalside walls connected rotatably to the bottom, wherein the bottom has afirst concave/convex connection surface, wherein at least one side wallhas a second convex/concave connection surface, which for the connectionof the at least one side wall with the bottom cooperates with the firstconnection surface, wherein the first and/or the second connectionsurface is cylindrical to allow said rotational movement about arotational axis and wherein the first and the second connection surfaceare arranged such that the movement of the at least one side wallrelative to the bottom is prevented in at least one first directionperpendicular to the rotational axis and is enabled in a seconddirection which is opposite the first direction.

Folding boxes are practical aids for transporting objects, as in anunfolded state they form a box or case that is open at the top and in afolded state they are flat and therefore easy to store. This is aconsiderable advantage over fixed boxes. However, the use of foldingboxes is restricted or even avoided because they are less stable thanfixed boxes. Furthermore, known locking mechanisms, which lock the sidewalls relative to one another and thereby prevent the collapse of thebox, are often unreliable or have a very complex structure.

For example from EP 1 565 382 B1 a plastic box with liftable side wallsis known, in which after lifting the side wall extensions bear againstsaid side wall from the outside on the bottom of the box and thusprevent the side wall from being pushed inside the box.

Owing to its design the measure described in EP 1 565 382 B1 is onlyeffective when the side walls are completely lifted up. This is adisadvantage in that users of folding boxes do not always lift them upcompletely or during use may unintentionally fold in a side wallslightly. The mechanism known from the prior art is then no longereffective so that the folding box is more unstable.

The objective of the invention is therefore to provide a folding box,which is better protected from unintentional pushing inwards.

The objective of the invention is achieved by means of a folding box ofthe aforementioned type, in which:

-   -   the bottom has a third concave/convex connection surface and    -   the at least one side wall has a fourth convex/concave        connection surface, wherein    -   the third and/or the fourth connection surface is cylindrical to        enable the said rotational movement about the axis of rotation        and wherein    -   the third and the fourth connection surface are arranged so that        the displacement of the at least one side wall relative to the        bottom in the second direction is enabled in a first rotational        position of the side wall and is prevented in a second        rotational position.

According to the invention a third connection surface is provided on thebottom and a fourth connection surface is provided on the side wall, atleast one of which is cylindrical. In this way it is possible that thethird and fourth connection surface are already in engagement during thelifting up of the side wall and thus prevent the pushing in of the sidewall. The protection against pushing in is effective not only in the endposition of the side, as is the case in the prior art, but also forexample when the users of a folding box do not lift up the side wallscompletely by mistake or fold them in slightly during useunintentionally. The invention is also based on the finding that theusers of a folding box do not always use the latter—even ifunintentionally—according to the instructions or according to thedirections. The generally more stable folding box according to theinvention makes a significant contribution to the prior art, as foldingboxes are widely used and are also often used for transporting expensivegoods. The collapse of a box would be particularly inconvenient in thiscase.

Advantageous embodiments and developments of the invention are describedin the subclaims and in the description in conjunction with the Figuresof the drawing.

It is an advantage if the second and the third connection surface areconvex-cylindrical. In this case one connection surface on the side walland one connection surface on the bottom are convex cylindrical. Thiscan be achieved relatively easily in terms of manufacturing, as rotarybolts can be molded on the side wall and a rounding can be molded on thebottom.

It is also advantageous if the first and the fourth connection surfaceare concave-cylindrical. In this case a connection surface on the sidewall and a connection surface on the bottom are concave-cylindrical.This variant with the previously mentioned variant is particularlyadvantageous, as here respectively two cylindrical surfaces cooperatewith one another and enable particularly effectively a rotationalmovement of the side wall.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention the first concaveconnection surface encloses an angle of 180°, the second convexconnection surface an angle of 360°, the third convex connection surfacean angle of 180°, and the fourth, concave connection surface an angle of90°. It is particularly advantageous in this case if a connecting boltof the side wall is arranged in a half shell of the bottom, as the sidewall because of the half shell can be joined particularly easily to thebottom. In addition, by means of a quarter arc-shaped tab or the like,which cooperates with a semi-circular surface on the bottom, thepressing in of the side walls is avoided. Of course, the indicatedvalues are only advantageous guidelines which can also be deviated from,without departing from the concept of the invention. Apart from smaller,structurally determined deviations the third surface can also onlyenclose an angle of 90°.

It is also advantageous if the first and the second connection surfaceare locked. In this case the side wall and bottom are joined togetherpermanently, so that their connection can only be released withconsiderable force. This locking can be achieved for example in that thehalf shell in the bottom of the folding box encloses an angle of morethan 180°. Alternatively, also a tab can be provided for this purpose.If the bolt of the side wall is then pushed into the half shell, thelatter locks therein when a specific force is exceeded.

It is particularly advantageous if the first direction parallel to thebottom points away from the inside of the folding box. In this variantof the invention the side wall can only slide out of the half shell in alying position, and in the direction of the inside of the folding box.As the folding box in this position of the side wall is in a position ofrest and in this position in general no objects are conveyed, anunintentional sliding of the side wall out of its bearing does notimpair the function of the folding box in particular.

The above embodiments and developments of the invention can be combinedin any way.

For a better understanding of the invention the latter is explained inmore detail with reference to the following Figures.

In a much simplified representation:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic, perspective view of a folding box;

FIG. 2 a shows a side view of a detail of a first variant of a side wallof a folding box according to the invention;

FIG. 2 b shows a plan view of a detail of the first variant of a bottomof a folding box according to the invention;

FIG. 3 a shows a first cross-sectional view of the first variant of aconnection between the side wall and bottom;

FIG. 3 b shows a second cross-sectional view of the first variant of theconnection between the side wall and bottom;

FIG. 3 c shows a third cross sectional view of the first variant of theconnection between the side wall and bottom;

FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of a second variant of a connectionof the side wall and bottom according to the invention;

FIG. 5 shows a cross sectional view of a third variant of a connectionof the side wall and bottom according to the invention;

FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of a fourth variant of a connectionof the side wall and bottom according to the invention;

FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of a fifth variant of a connectionof the side wall and bottom according to the invention;

FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of a sixth variant of a connectionof the side wall and bottom according to the invention;

FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional view of a seventh variant of a connectionof the side wall and bottom according to the invention.

First of all, it should be noted that in the variously describedexemplary embodiments the same parts have been given the same referencenumerals and the same component names, whereby the disclosures containedthroughout the entire description can be applied to the same parts withthe same reference numerals and same component names. Also detailsrelating to position used in the description, such as e.g. top, bottom,side etc. relate to the currently described and represented figure andin case of a change in position should be adjusted to the new position.Furthermore, also individual features or combinations of features fromthe various exemplary embodiments shown and described can represent inthemselves independent or inventive solutions.

The exemplary embodiments show possible embodiment variants of a foldingbox according to the invention, whereby it should be noted at this pointthat the invention is not restricted to the embodiment variants shown inparticular, but rather various different combinations of the individualembodiment variants are also possible and this variability, due to theteaching on technical procedure, lies within the ability of a personskilled in the art in this technical field. Thus all conceivableembodiment variants, which are made possible by combining individualdetails of the embodiment variants shown and described, are also coveredby the scope of protection.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic, perspective view of a folding box 1 with abottom 2 and side walls 3 connected pivotably to the bottom. Arrowssymbolize how the side walls 3 can be moved from their position of restto an operational position.

FIGS. 2 a to 3 c show a first embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 ashows a side view of a section of a side wall 3 with a secondconvex-cylindrical connection surface b, here a bolt attached by twoconnecting webs, and a fourth, concave-cylindrical connection surface d,here two tabs that are curved in cross section.

FIG. 2 b shows a plan view of a section of the bottom 2 with a firstconcave-cylindrical connection surface a, here a half shell for mountingthe bolt, and a third, convex-cylindrical connection surface c, here twobearing surfaces designed in the form of semi-circle in cross section.From the drawing it can be seen that the connection surfaces a . . . ddo not necessarily need to be continuous, but can also consist of partsurfaces.

FIG. 3 a shows a section AA, which shows the interaction of the firstand second connection surface a and b, here the bolt of the side wall 3in a half shell of the bottom 2. The side wall 3 is in this case shownin the folded up position, i.e. the operating position. It can be seenthat the side wall 3 cannot be moved relative to the bottom 2 in a firstdirection x1 but can be moved in a second opposite direction x2.

FIG. 3 b shows a section BB, which shows a part of the cylindrical firstconnection surface a, which encloses more than 180° and thus ensures thelocking of the side wall 3 with the bottom 2.

Lastly, FIG. 3 c shows a section CC, which shows the interaction of thethird and fourth connection surface c and d, here the tab of the sidewall 3 and the bearing surfaces of the bottom 2. The side wall 3 isshown in turn in an operational position. It can clearly be seen thatthe side wall 3 cannot be displaced in this position relative to thebottom in the second direction x2. In the position of rest however thisis very likely. For this reason the side wall 3 can only be mounted inlying position, as the latter locks in position during lifting up.

It should be noted at this point that the bearing clearance in theFigures is shown to be relatively large for reasons of clarity. Inreality of course narrower tolerances are possible and advantageous. Allof the cylindrical connection surfaces a . . . d also have a common axisz. This is advantageous, but small deviations can be tolerated.

FIG. 4 shows a second variant of the joint or hinge connection. Thefirst connection surface a and the fourth connection surface d are inthis ease concave-cylindrical, the second connection surface b and thethird connection surface c are convex-cylindrical. Unlike thearrangement shown in FIGS. 2 a to 3 c here all of the connectionsurfaces a . . . d are arranged in one plane. Of course this is notmandatory. Instead the first and the second connection surface a and bcan be arranged on one plane, the third and fourth connection surface cand d can be arranged in another plane. The function of the arrangementshown in FIG. 4 is very similar to the one shown in FIGS. 2 a to 3 c.Only the third connection surface c encloses an angle of only 90°.

FIG. 5 shows a third variant of the invention which is similar to thesecond variant. Instead of the cylindrical, first connection surface ahere a rectangular first connection surface a is provided, which ispossibly easier to produce in terms of manufacturing. Likewise thefourth connection surface d is rectangular and not cylindrical. Thefunction of the arrangement shown in FIG. 5 is overall very similar tothe arrangement shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 shows a fourth variant of the invention which is similar to thesecond variant. Instead of the cylindrical second connection surface bin this case a rectangular second connection surface b is provided.Likewise the third connection surface c is rectangular and notcylindrical.

However, the function of the arrangement shown in FIG. 6 is very similarto the arrangement shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 shows a fifth variant of the invention, in which the firstconnection surface a is open towards the top. The side wall 3 istherefore mounted in this variant from the top. On folding up the sidewall 3 the fourth connection surface d grips below the third connectionsurface c and thus prevents that side wall 3 from being pulled awayupwards in the operational position. It is an advantage with thisarrangement that the force to be transmitted between the side wall 3 andbottom 2 can be apportioned onto a larger surface.

FIG. 8 shows a sixth variant of the invention in which the firstconnection surface a is open to the outside, i.e. away from the insideof the box. The side wall 3 is mounted from the outside in this variant.When folding up the side wall 3 the cooperating connection surfaces cand d prevent the side wall 3 from being pulled out in the seconddirection x2.

Lastly, FIG. 9 shows a seventh variant of the invention. The firstconnection surface a and the fourth connection surface d are designed tobe convex-cylindrical, the second connection surface b and the thirdconnection surface c to be concave-cylindrical. In order to show thefourth connection surface d more effectively, which is not in the shownsectional plane, the side wall 3 has not been indicated here byhatching. This arrangement has a special feature in that pulling out theside wall 3 in the second direction x2 is not prevented directly by thecooperation of the third and fourth connection surface c and d, butindirectly in that the side wall 3 cannot be pulled away upwards and thebolt can thus not jump out of the bearing shell.

It is noted at this point that the shown variants represent only afraction of the number of possibilities for implementing the ideaaccording to the invention. In particular, the shown combinationsbetween the first/second connection surface a/b and third/fourthconnection surface c/d are not mandatory in any way. Rather othercombinations are also possible. For example, the first and the secondconnection surface a and b from FIG. 4 can be combined with the thirdand fourth connection surface c and d from FIG. 5. Otherwise the firstand second connection surface a and b from FIG. 6 can be combined withthe third and fourth connection surface c and d from FIG. 4 and so on.Lastly, in addition to the shown rectangular cross sections of theconnection surfaces a . . . d other polygonal shapes are possible, forexample triangles, pentagons, hexagons and so on.

The common advantage of all of the explicitly and implicitly givenvariants is that the locking by the third and fourth connection surfacec and d is effective even when lifting up the side wall 3 and not as inthe prior art only in the end position. The shown and indicatedenclosing angles of the connection surfaces are in this caseadvantageous but not mandatory. A person skilled in the art will easilybe able to adapt the predefined details to his requirements. Theinvention can be applied to only one or more of the side walls 3 of thefolding box 1.

Lastly, it should be noted that the components according to theinvention can be produced preferably by an injection molding techniqueusing known plastics. However, it is also possible to use othermaterials of course, in particular various different materials. Forexample, it is possible to make the first and second connection surfacea and b of metal, as the latter are subject to comparatively high levelsof stress. However, it is also possible to make the folding box 1completely out of metal.

Furthermore, the arrangement of the components according to theinvention on the longitudinal sides of the bottom 2 and the side wall 3is not associated in any way with the form shown in FIGS. 2 a and 2 b.Any number of the illustrated hinges can be used. Furthermore, also acontinuous axle extending over the entire length of a side wall ispossible instead of an individual bolt, in particular a metal axle.

Finally, as a point of formality, it should be noted that for a betterunderstanding of the structure of the folding box 1 the latter and itscomponents have not been represented true to scale in part and/or havebeen enlarged and/or reduced in size.

The problem addressed by the independent solutions according to theinvention can be taken from the description.

Mainly the individual embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 9 can form thesubject matter of independent solutions according to the invention. Theobjectives and solutions according to the invention relating thereto canbe taken from the detailed descriptions of said figures.

List of Reference Numerals 1 Folding box 2 Bottom 3 Side wall a Firstconnection surface b Second connection surface c Third connectionsurface d Fourth connection surface x1 First direction x2 Seconddirection z Axis

1. A folding box (1), comprising a bottom (2) and a plurality of sidewalls (3) connected rotatably with the bottom (2), wherein the bottom(2) comprises a first concave/convex connection surface (a) at least oneside wall (3) comprises a second convex/concave connection surface (b),which for joining the at least one side wall (3) with the bottom (2)cooperates with the first connection surface (a), wherein the firstand/or the second connection surface (a, b) is cylindrical to enable thesaid rotational movement about an axis of rotation (z) and wherein thefirst and the second connection surface (a, b) are arranged such that adisplacement of the at least one side wall (3) relative to the bottom(2) is prevented in at least one first direction (x1) perpendicular tothe axis of rotation (z) and is enabled in a second direction (x2)opposite the first direction (x1), wherein the bottom (2) has a thirdconcave/convex connection surface (c) and the at least one side wall (3)has a fourth convex/concave connection surface (d), wherein the thirdand/or the fourth connection surface (c, d) is cylindrical to enable thesaid rotational movement about the axis of rotation (z) and wherein thethird and the fourth connection surface (c, d) are arranged such that adisplacement of the at least one side wall (3) relative to the bottom(2) in the second direction (x2) is made possible in a first rotationalposition of the side wall (3) and is prevented in a second rotationalposition.
 2. The folding box (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein thesecond and the third connection surface (b, c) are convex-cylindrical.3. The folding box (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and thefourth connection surface (a, d) are concave-cylindrical.
 4. The foldingbox (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first, concave connectionsurface (a) encloses an angle of 180% the second, convex connectionsurface (b) encloses an angle of 360% the third, convex connectionsurface (c) encloses an angle of 180% and the fourth, concave connectionsurface (d) encloses an angle of 90°.
 5. The folding box (1) as claimedin claim 1, wherein the first and the second connection surface (a, b)are locked.
 6. The folding box (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein thefirst direction (x1) parallel to the bottom (2) points away from theinside of the folding box (1).